Moving reunion as care home visits resume
A COUPLE who have been together for over 70 years have been reunited for the first time in more than nine weeks after care home visits resumed in Inverclyde.
The emotional moment took place between John and Mary Stevenson at Glenfield Care Home in Greenock on Monday (1 March).
Despite not being allowed to see each other indoors since Christmas Day last year, John, 89, still visited his beloved wife Mary, 97, every day just to see her through a window.
The couple, who have been together for 74 years and married since 1972, were finally reunited face-to-face and the emotional moment was sealed with a hug.
Mary said: “That was wonderful. I’ve got my John.”
John added: “It was wonderful to get back in.
“It’s been harrowing but the care staff have been so kind and loving.
“She couldn’t be in a better place. I’ve missed her.”
The moving moment came as families were once again allowed to visit their loved ones indoors following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
Carol Chiverton, Glenfield care home manager, said: “It’s absolutely wonderful to see our families being reunited again.
“It’s so emotional but so rewarding too.”
The resumption of indoor visiting comes after the completion of second doses of coronavirus vaccines to all Inverclyde care home residents and staff.
Despite the rollout of the vaccine, stringent safety measures remain in place to protect residents and their loved ones.
Visits can only take place after the return of a negative covid rapid test, thorough cleaning of hands and a face covering must be worn.
Andrea Wyllie, chief executive of Glenfield operators Greenock Medical Aid Society, said: “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as John and Mary embraced after so long apart.
“The pandemic has been hard on so many people and it’s been awful for residents to be separated from their families.
“Our staff have worked ever so hard implementing all the safety procedures to ensure visits could resume as soon as we were given the green light and this is an important milestone on the road out of this pandemic.”
Second doses of the covid vaccine have been administered in local care homes over the past couple of weeks by Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) staff working alongside care homes and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Councillor Robert Moran, Inverclyde’s health and social care convener, said: “It’s been a monumental effort by staff from the HSCP, care homes and the NHS to deliver second doses of the covid vaccine in all Inverclyde care homes.
“That, combined with the sacrifices by many to help suppress the virus, has allowed us to get to this point to see residents and families reunited.
“Hopefully this is the first step towards greater access and a return to some form of normality over the coming weeks and months.
“In the meantime, we must all continue to do our bit to slow the spread of the virus to protect ourselves and each other.”
To find out more about the Covid-19 vaccination programme, visit www.nhsinform.scot.